The post-season began on a perfect note as I went 15-0 (100 percent) last week. Heading into the second round, my overall mark is 131-30, which has me at 81 percent for the season.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 1
Crown Point (9-0) at Portage (2-7): The No. 6 Bulldogs rolled to a 42-7 win over Portage on September 16. JJ Johnson went 4-of-7 for 62 yards with a touchdown, ran 13 times for 74 yards with three scores, and caught a 24-yard pass for another tally in Crown Point’s 38-3 win over Michigan City. Terrell Craft accounted for three scores in the Indians’ 28-6 win over LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 43, Portage 10.
Lake Central (4-5) at Lafayette Jeff (7-2): The Bronchos cruised to a 54-6 win over Lake Central in last year’s sectional semifinals. Xavier Williams had 24 carries for 125 yards with two touchdowns in the Indians’ 21-14 loss to Valparaiso. Glenn Patterson scampered 21 times for 119 yards with two scores in Lafayette Jeff’s 32-30 win over No. 7 (Class 4A) Kokomo. Matt’s pick: Lafayette Jeff 37, Lake Central 19.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 2
Carroll (Fort Wayne) (9-0) at Penn (7-2): The No. 5 Chargers edged No. 10 Penn, 14-13, in the 2012 sectional semifinals. Gabe Starks caught three passes for 36 yards with a touchdown in Carroll’s 45-8 win over Fort Wayne Wayne. Jake Balis ran 12 times for 100 yards in the Kingsmen’s 35-7 win over Adams. Matt’s pick: Penn 21, Carroll 17.
Elkhart (7-2) at Warsaw (7-2): Rodney Gates caught a 12-yard pass for a score in the Lions’ 35-7 loss to No. 6 (Class 4A) New Prairie. German Flores-Ortega raced for 159 yards and five touchdowns in the Tigers’ 35-21 win over Northridge. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 33, Elkhart 30.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 9
Munster (3-6) at Merrillville (7-2): The No. 6 Pirates downed Munster, 28-21, in the 2012 sectional quarterfinals. Daniel Asgedom tallied 30 rushes for 107 yards in the Mustangs’ 35-0 loss to Hobart. Justin Marshall had 19 carries for 55 yards with a touchdown and caught five passes for 55 yards in Merrillville’s 35-10 loss to Chesterton. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 49, Munster 6.
Hammond Central (7-2) at Hammond Morton (1-8): The Wolves posted a 49-20 win over Hammond Morton on September 30. Akheem Harrington registered 16 carries for 106 yards with a score in Hammond Central’s 27-26 win over Madison. Dontell Harris ran for a pair of touchdowns in the Governors’ 58-12 win over East Chicago Central. Matt’s pick: Hammond Central 47, Hammond Morton 12.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 10
Valparaiso (6-3) at LaPorte (2-7): The No. 9 Vikings marched past LaPorte, 42-7, on September 2. Thomas Burda tallied 26 carries for 126 yards with two touchdowns for Valparaiso against Lake Central. Tommy Samuelson caught three passes for 29 yards with a score for the Slicers against Portage. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 44, LaPorte 10.
Chesterton (4-5) at Michigan City (2-7): The Wolves managed a 24-21 win over Chesterton on September 2. Garrett Lewis hauled in three receptions for 51 yards with two touchdowns and ran 15 times for 75 yards for the Trojans against Merrillville. Andrew Oleksiuk booted a 25-yard field goal for Michigan City against Crown Point. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 28, Michigan City 23.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 11
Concord (4-5) at Goshen (2-7): The RedHawks are looking to make amends for a 37-7 loss to Concord on September 23. Daesean Emerson caught three passes for 85 yards for the Minutemen in their 52-0 win over Plymouth. Jace Hershberger tossed a 16-yard touchdown pass for Goshen in its 42-6 loss to No. 3 (Class 4A) NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Concord 42, Goshen 13.
Adams (1-8) at Mishawaka (8-1): The No. 4 Cavemen earned the 2020 sectional crown with a 49-21 win over Adams. Phoenyx Clark was 5-of-12 for 18 yards for the Eagles against Penn. Chaz Hardy registered seven rushes for 111 yards with three touchdowns in Mishawaka’s 54-21 win over Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 41, Adams 7.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 17
New Prairie (9-1) at Lowell (7-3): The No. 6 Cougars posted a 24-7 win at Lowell on September 2. Jacob Mrozinski accounted for a six-yard touchdown run in New Prairie’s 47-6 win over Kankakee Valley. Brayden Walker came up with two receptions for 61 yards with a score in the Red Devils’ 27-14 win over Culver Academy. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 22, Lowell 20.
Hobart (7-3) at Highland (4-6): The Brickies rolled to a 41-7 win over Highland on October 7. Bradley Gibson managed 10 tackles in Hobart’s 37-6 win over Gary West. Nick Johnson recorded a safety and two fumble recoveries in the Trojans’ 55-0 win over East Chicago Central. Matt’s pick: Hobart 40, Highland 9.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 18
Logansport (8-2) at Northridge (6-4): The Raiders earned a 26-20 win against Logansport in the 2008 sectional opener. Izak Mock went 7-of-13 for 168 yards with three touchdowns in the Berries’ 35-14 win over Wawasee. Jethro Hochstetler racked up nine receptions for 209 yards with a score in Northridge’s 33-12 win over Riley. Matt’s pick: Northridge 26, Logansport 18.
NorthWood (10-0) at Saint Joseph (4-6): The No. 3 Panthers were a 12-6 winner over Saint Joseph in the 2009 Class 3A sectional semifinals. Owen Roeder completed 7-of-10 for 170 yards with two scores in NorthWood’s 48-14 win over Washington. Elijah Keultjes came up with a pair of touchdown receptions in the Indians’ 47-14 win over Plymouth. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 29, Saint Joseph 11.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 26
West Noble (8-2) at Knox (7-3): Drew Yates was 13-of-18 for 204 yards with two touchdowns in the Chargers’ 26-14 win against Marian. The Redskins rolled up more than 600 yards on the ground in their 65-28 win over Lakeland. Matt’s pick: Knox 38, West Noble 32.
Jimtown (8-2) at Glenn (6-4): The Jimmies came away with a 20-12 win at Glenn on September 9. Jaymie Clere came up with an interception in Jimtown’s 55-0 win over Clay. Caleb Spodnick returned a blocked field goal 85 yards for a score in the Falcons’ 24-7 win over Fairfield. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 31, Glenn 15.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 33
Andrean (6-3) at LaVille (10-0): The No. 5 and defending state champion 59ers downed No. 2 LaVille, 35-8, in last year’s regional. James Finley registered eight tackles and a fumble recovery in Andrean’s 28-13 loss to Lowell. Michael Good had two catches for 59 yards with a touchdown in the Lancers’ 51-6 win over Whiting. Matt’s pick: Andrean 17, LaVille 16.
Bremen (6-4) at Lake Station (4-6): The Lions roared to a 33-3 win over Lake Station in the 1997 sectional semifinals. Lance Moser finished with 153 yards on the ground with four scores in Bremen’s 35-21 win over Wheeler. The Fighting Eagles scored the first 32 points on their way to a 46-7 win over Hammond Bishop Noll. Matt’s pick: Bremen 34, Lake Station 17.
